Person:Walter Seeber (3)

Pages 16 and 17 note a letter sent to his parents a short time before he was killed at Fredericksburg, Virginia:

Camp near Falmouth, Va. April 14, 1863.

Dear Parents:

    It is with pleasure and yet witha feeling of sadness which I cannot drive away, that I now sit down to write to you.  My health is good at present.  My object in writing to you today is to let you know that the time has come when we are again to meet the enemy.  We have orders to start tomorrow at three o'clock.  We are to carry eight days rations, which will be quite a load with our knapsacks.  we may meet the enemy before tomorrow night in mortal conflict, and may take a roundabout course and not meet them in two or three days.  But meet them we must, and when we do in my opinion, it wil be the hardest struggle of the war.  Dear parents, keep good cheer, and hope for the best.  If I should fall, remember that I fell in a good cause, fighting for my country, which was bought by the blood of our forefathers.  Remember that I was doing my duty to my country, and remember that God above is with us on the field of battle as well as at home by the fireside.  That he can shiled us from the deadly missiles of the enemy if it is his will, and if not, who would not rather die, while doing his duty for his country, than any other way.  As for me, I must do my duty; let the consequences be what they will.  But keep good courage and hope for the best.  This war cannot last long, and if I am spared, then we shall all feel better than if I had stayed at home when my country was at danger.  As I shall want all my time to pack up, I must close by saying, keep good courage and hope for the best.  I will soon write to you again.

From your affectionate son,

W. SEEBER

1. ↑ Putman, George W. Genealogy of David Putman and His Descendants. (Private publication, 1916)
   16.